Eight people died within two days of a cholera outbreak in Muna camp, a shelter for internally displaced persons, and 17 others are suffering from the virulent disease.

Although the cholera bacteria might not cause illness in all people who are exposed to them, they still pass the bacteria in their stools, which can contaminate food and water supplies, the main source of infection.

Cholera can cause severe acute watery diarrhoea. It takes between 12 hours and five days for a person to show symptoms after ingesting contaminated food or water. It affects both children and adults and can kill within hours if untreated. The infection is often mild or without symptoms, but it can be severe and life-threatening.

Donuma, ward head of Muna IDP camp, told RNI that about a week ago it was established 25 people had been infected, eight of whom died within two days, including women and children.

“Usually at night, I and other camp officials, in collaboration with the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), transport people infected by the disease to a hospital in the Garannam area, where they are kept isolated and treated.

“Already, some of the people who received proper medical treatment are feeling better. But one of the problems is that we do not always have a vehicle to transport those who have cholera. In an emergency, we have to hire a tricycle (Keke Napep) or a taxi to take the patient to hospital.”

Donuma said he and others in the camp were very worried about the outbreak and were scared others would become infected.

“Once before we had a cholera outbreak in this camp and it killed half of the inhabitants. We are terrified that it could happen again.”

He said there were large areas of stagnant water in the camp because of the rainy season.

“Children play and swim in the water even though it is very dirty because some people defecate and urinate in it. Thus, it’s very dangerous not only for those children but also for the entire camp community.”

He said in the past two years, the Borno State government had fumigated the entire camp but it had not done so this year.

“Since we realised that there were people who were suffering from the disease, we have been trying to enlighten, educate and inform all the residents about the hazards of cholera. We tell them to make every effort to keep the camp hygienic and to wash their hands regularly to protect themselves from getting the disease.”

Donuma said they were pleading with the state’s health ministry to do something about it.

“We urgently need a temporary hospital or clinic inside the camp with adequate medical facilities, such as medicines and an ambulance, as well as enough health workers. If they do this, it will stop cholera from spreading to neighbouring communities.”

Some residents of Muna Camp told RNI that they were frightened of becoming infected and were trying to keep their environment hygienic and safe.

Fanna Mustapha said: “We are aware of the cholera outbreak and now we are trying our best to protect our children and ourselves from the disease by washing our hands with soap and ashes regularly whenever we use the toilet. And we sanitise our environment to ensure it is clean and hygienic.”

Falmata Ali said: “As soon as we heard that there was an outbreak of cholera in the in the camp, we started taking precautions, ensuring that we don’t eat contaminated foods and only drink clean and safe water. We are also making sure we sanitise all surfaces and we wash our hands with soap or use ashes after using the toilet.

“We have stopped our children from going to the river to play or swim. So far, we have been safe and we pray the almighty Allah will continue to protect us all.”

“It is imperative that residents of the camp take all the necessary preventive measures,” said clinician Mohammed Usman, adding that the Borno State government should act immediately to ensure that the outbreak does not spread or occur in any other community.

“The government should start fumigation and sanitation in all communities and take all necessary precautions to prevent the disease from spreading to communities that are still safe.

“Cholera is a very dangerous and deadly disease because it can affect a large number of eople in a short space of time. People become infected when they eat food and drink water that is contaminated. It can be a life-threatening disease but, if treated immediately, it is curable. People must cook their food well and cover it. They should drink clean water, regularly wash their hands and keep the environment clean, especially the toilet areas.

“The government needs to act now, especially because it is now the rainy season. The flooding by the River Ngadda-Bul could increase the number of cases. The government needs to take all the necessary measures and steps to prevent cholera from spreading to other areas before it gets out of hand.”

The World Health Organisation (WHO) said cholera was spread by eating food or drinking water contaminated by the faeces of an infected person. It occurred mostly in underdeveloped countries that lacked clean water supplies and sewage disposal.

Cholera transmission was intricately linked to inadequate access to clean water and sanitation facilities. Typical at-risk areas included peri-urban slums and camps for internally displaced persons or refugees, where even the minimum requirements of clean water and sanitation were not met.

The consequences of a humanitarian crisis – such as disruption of water and sanitation systems, or the displacement of populations to inadequate and overcrowded camps – increased the risk of cholera transmission, should the bacteria be present or introduced.

The organisation said the long-term solution for cholera control lay in economic development and universal access to safe drinking water and adequate sanitation. Actions targeting environmental conditions included the implementation of adapted long-term sustainable WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) solutions to ensure the use of safe water, basic sanitation and good hygiene practices in cholera hotspots.

In addition to cholera, such interventions prevented a wide range of other water-borne illnesses and also contributed to achieving goals related to poverty, malnutrition and education. The WASH solutions for cholera were aligned with those of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 6), the WHO said.

About one in 20 people infected had acute watery diarrhoea accompanied by severe vomiting, which could quickly lead to dehydration, that could progress to hypovolemic shock and metabolic acidosis. And, even though infected people might have minimal or no symptoms, they could still contribute to the spread of the infection.

It was important that people washed their hands with soap and water regularly, especially after using the toilet and before preparing food or eating.

People should drink water that had been boiled or bottled. They should also use only boiled or bottled water to clean their teeth.

Most People infected with the toxin-producing Vibrio cholerae did not develop symptoms, although the bacteria were present in their faeces for one to 10 days after infection and were shed back into the environment infecting other people.

SHETTIMA LAWAN MONGUNO